Jibrin confirms Senator Nwaboshi’s claim, says Ibori funded Dogara with $600,000

The never-ending face-off between Abdulmumin Jibrin and Speaker Yakubu Dogara has taken a new turn with the former accusing the later of receiving $600,000 cash from convicted former governor James Ibori of Delta State.

Jibrin, sacked chairman House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, made the allegation on Christmas eve via a statement credited to him. He said, : “It is such a shame that Speaker Dogara denied the fact that former Governor James Ibori provided huge support to his emergence as Speaker by mobilising members from Delta State and some from the Southsouth and Southeast to support him.
“Since he has disowned Ibori, he should at least have the honour to return the $600,000 Ibori donated to his speakership campaign. I am sure he cannot deny the fact that he collected that money cash!”

Ibori grabbed the headlines lately when, shortly after release from a London prison, a Nigerian Senator, Peter Nwaoboshi, said, “there may never be a governor in Nigeria history again who will seat in prison and make a governor. There may never be a governor in the history of Nigeria who will seat in prison and make senators. Who will seat in the prison and support a Senate President, and there may never be a governor who will seat in prison and make a Speaker, and there may never be a governor who will seat in prison and make the daughter a member of the House of Assembly.”

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However, in a quick reaction, Dogara’s media team led by Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, has asked Nigerians to disregard Jibrin’s recent outburst saying, “For the records, we want to state that the Rt. Hon. Speaker was elected by the votes of members of the House of Representatives. There may well be silent supporters and well wishers of the Honourable Speaker from far and near some of whom he may not be aware of.
“Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara does not have a relationship, political or otherwise with formers Governor James Ibori of Delta state to warrant the insinuations in the statement credited to Senator Nwaboshi, and had never had one.”

Jibrin, who now adorns the toga of anti-corruption crusader, has vowed to pursue his pet project relentlessly. He claimed to have secured two international partnerships by way of funding. “We have secured funding from two reputable international organisation to establish an online platform that will serve as a central point to disseminate budget fraud and corruption acts and publish evidence and also hold lecture series and sensitization programs on budget fraud and corruption across the country,” he said.

Jibrin earned a suspension from the House for bringing the institution into disrepute by alleging that the 2016 budget had been padded. He named Speaker Dogara, some other principal officers and nine Committee Chairmen in the alleged scam.

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